asantry that in
those times on fast days they would sometimes divide one fig into four or
six portions that so the great quantity of the bread they consumed might
be seasoned by those fragments. On a time also there come to us, I know
not whence, half a jar of salted salmon, and as the Brothers were
doubting what should be done therewith, Brother Henry de Wilsen, being
ever greatly zealous for discipline, persuaded them that by all means it
ought to be sold lest such new and unaccustomed dainties should begin to
be brought in.

At this time they had no flocks of sheep, nor any fishery, nor fishers,
but so piously and soberly did they live that Gherard of Bronchorst, a
Canon of St. Saviour's, who once sojourned for a while with the Brothers
at Windesem, was wont to say in his own pleasant manner, "None fare
sumptuously in Windesem unless it be the swine and the guests." So also
to drink wine and eat roast fowls were held in Windesem to be matters
that should be referred to the Bishop.

XXIV. _Of their Vesture_.

Their vesture and their utensils were notable examples of their true
lowliness and simplicity, so that I remember to have seen those venerable
elders, Brother Henry of Uxaria and Brother Henry de Wilsen, wearing
garments that were altogether worn through by constantly rubbing against
the seats as they leaned back, and these were botched about the elbows
with great patches of rough cloth. But if men of their quality wore such
vesture what wonder if the younger men in those days were not more
freakish than they in the matter of clothing?

Indeed, I lie if I have not seen some of our household that were Laics
wearing sad-coloured garments made of bark fibre, in providing which and
like garments also Brother Henry Balveren, the Vestiarius, showed great
zeal, as did the tailor, Brother Herbert, a Convert who was formerly a
disciple of Gherard Groet.

They had likewise certain hair shirts which were lent from time to time
to divers of the younger Brothers for the taming of their vices and
concupiscence, and one of these was as rough as those hair cloths with
which the brewers' cauldrons are wont to be dried.

XXV. _How they avoided all occasion of scandal_.

One may see how greatly they preferred their own good report and the
edification of all men before all worldly good, by this tale; namely,
that on a time two young men of Deventer came to Windesem, of whom one
was called Goswin Comhaer (a man who was a